Primary Citation of Related Structures:   2D10, 2D11
PubMed Abstract: 
The Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor (NHERF) is a key adaptor protein involved in the anchoring of ion channels and receptors to the actin cytoskeleton through binding to ERM (ezrin/radixin/moesin) proteins. NHERF binds the FERM domain of ERM proteins, although NHERF has no signature Motif-1 sequence for FERM binding found in adhesion molecules ...
The Na+/H+ exchanger regulatory factor (NHERF) is a key adaptor protein involved in the anchoring of ion channels and receptors to the actin cytoskeleton through binding to ERM (ezrin/radixin/moesin) proteins. NHERF binds the FERM domain of ERM proteins, although NHERF has no signature Motif-1 sequence for FERM binding found in adhesion molecules. The crystal structures of the radixin FERM domain complexed with the NHERF-1 and NHERF-2 C-terminal peptides revealed a peptide binding site of the FERM domain specific for the 13 residue motif MDWxxxxx(L/I)Fxx(L/F) (Motif-2), which is distinct from Motif-1. This Motif-2 forms an amphipathic alpha helix for hydrophobic docking to subdomain C of the FERM domain. This docking causes induced-fit conformational changes in subdomain C and affects binding to adhesion molecule peptides, while the two binding sites are not overlapped. Our studies provide structural paradigms for versatile ERM linkages between membrane proteins and the cytoskeleton.
Related Citations: 
Crystallographic characterization of the radixin FERM domain bound to the C-terminal region of the human Na+/H+-exchanger regulatory factor (NHERF) Terawaki, S., Maesaki, R., Okada, K., Hakoshima, T. (2003) Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 59: 177
Structural basis of the membrane-targeting and unmasking mechanisms of the radixin FERM domain Hamada, K., Shimizu, T., Matsui, T., Tsukita, S., Hakoshima, T. (2000) EMBO J 19: 4449
Structural basis of adhesion-molecule recognition by ERM proteins revealed by the crystal structure of the radixin-ICAM-2 complex Hamada, K., Shimizu, T., Yonemura, S., Tsukita, S., Tsukita, S., Hakoshima, T. (2003) EMBO J 22: 502
Organizational Affiliation: 
Structural Biology Laboratory, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.